BANGKOK — Thai Metropolitan Police announced the arrest of 3 Taiwanese and 1 Thai teenage girl for drug trafficking in pubs and condos in the Minburi area. Drugs were disguised in Japanese cartoon Shin-chan bags and tea bags. Export orders to foreign countries were found.
After the Metropolitan Police received information from sources about foreigners frequently gathering for drug parties in secret groups in Bangkok, specifically in the Minburi and Rom Klao areas, an investigation revealed that this drug gang brought narcotics from neighboring countries in the north and stored them for distribution to party-goers in Bangkok, including both Thai and foreign customers.
Due to the large quantity of drugs, the police had to expand their investigation, eventually discovering that the drugs were being exported to Taiwan or third countries, especially ketamine, which is popular among foreign users and would have high value if smuggled out. The police then planned the arrest using a search warrant for the house first.
On October 5 at 11:30 AM, while the arrest team was executing a search warrant at a house in Mantana Village, Srinakarin – Rom Klao, Minburi District, Bangkok, the occupants ran upstairs. Police followed and found a man and a woman in the bedroom.
A search uncovered ice (crystal meth), ecstasy, ketamine powder, pressed ketamine tablets, which some of these disguised in Japanese cartoon Crayon Shin-chan bags and Mango tea bags. They also seized a key and a keycard for a room at Supalai Condo in the Ramkhamhaeng area.
As the officers were about to search another room, a man jumped from the upper floor to escape but was caught by the police. A subsequent search of the downstairs bedroom revealed 1 kg of ketamine in a green tea bag, a number of Happy Water sachets, 1 bag of ice, ketamine powder in clear plastic bags, a ketamine tray, a ketamine grinder, a digital scale, and party equipment including sound systems and lighting.
The police then used the room keys and keycards to search the room at Supalai Condominium, where they found 276 bags of ketamine (1 kg each) hidden in green tea bags and 18 bags of Happy Water (1 kg each) in brown coffee bags.
On October 8, the Metropolitan Police held a press conference to announce the arrest of three Taiwanese suspects: Tsai (35), Hsieh (27), and Wang (41), along with a 19-year-old Thai woman, Miss Achisa. The arrests took place at Supalai Veranda Ramkhamhaeng Condominium in Bang Kapi District, Bangkok.
All suspects were arrested while possessing large quantities of drugs, including 277 kg of ketamine, 18 kg of Happy Water (methamphetamine), and 8.7 kg of ketamine powder in 13 bags. Other evidence included a white Toyota Alphard and a Yamaha Aerox motorcycle.
Police Major General Kiattikul Sonthinet, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 3, revealed that the suspect surnamed Tsai, nicknamed “A-Ke Sai Tee,” enjoys partying and drug use and is part of an international drug trafficking network with a Taiwanese leader. A-Ke’s wife is the Thai woman, Miss Achisa, a former PR girl at a bar who acted as a contact and drove to pick up ketamine and Happy Water using rental cars and the Toyota Alphard.
Hsieh and Wang were responsible for distributing ketamine to customers in entertainment venues and condos, as well as repackaging and concealing drugs for delivery to customers.
The police have initially charged all individuals with conspiracy to distribute Type 1 narcotics (methamphetamine or ice and Happy Water), which carries a penalty of 4-15 years imprisonment or a fine of 80,000-300,000 baht, or both.
The second charge is conspiracy to distribute Category 2 psychotropic substances (ketamine) with intent to sell, which is illegal for commercial purposes and contributes to the spread among the public and poses a security threat to the state. This offense carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine not exceeding 1,000,000 baht.
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